European Origin in Canada
European Canadians are Canadians who were either born in or can trace their ancestry to the continent of Europe. They represent the largest ethnic group in Canada, with communities spanning from early French and British settlers to more recent immigrants from across Europe.
According to the 2021 Canadian Census, approximately 19,062,115 people reported European ancestry, accounting for about 52.47% of Canada’s total population. This makes European Canadians the largest ancestry group in the country.
It is important to note that Statistics Canada allows self-identification, and a significant portion of individuals simply identify as “Canadian.” Many of these people have historical British or French origins, which means the true European ancestry share may be slightly higher than reported.
👉 Also read about Ethnicity in Canada
European Ancestry by Nation of Origin
Canadians of European descent come from a wide range of countries and regions across Europe. In the 2021 Census, individuals were asked to self-identify their ethnic origins. While Statistics Canada does not formally use the term “European Canadian,” respondents’ answers were categorized into seven broad groups: British Isles origins, French origins, Western European origins, Northern European origins, Southern European origins, Southeast European origins, and Eastern European origins.
The largest European ancestry groups in Canada are English, French, Irish, Scottish, and German, followed by Italian, Ukrainian, Dutch, and Polish communities. These groups together make up the majority of the European-origin population in Canada, reflecting both historical settlement patterns and more recent immigration.
Top European Ancestry Groups in Canada (2021)
| # | Ancestry | Population 2021 | % of Total |
| 1 | English | 5,322,825 | 14.65% |
| 2 | French | 4,917,985 | 13.54% |
| 3 | Irish | 4,413,120 | 12.15% |
| 4 | Scottish | 4,392,200 | 12.09% |
| 5 | German | 2,955,695 | 8.14% |
| 6 | Italian | 1,546,390 | 4.26% |
| 7 | Ukrainian | 1,258,635 | 3.46% |
| 8 | Dutch | 988,585 | 2.72% |
| 9 | Polish | 982,815 | 2.71% |
| 10 | Russian | 548,145 | 1.51% |
| 11 | Norwegian | 466,495 | 1.28% |
| 12 | Welsh | 455,725 | 1.25% |
| 13 | Portuguese | 448,305 | 1.23% |
| 14 | Spanish | 342,045 | 0.94% |
| 15 | Swedish | 334,505 | 0.92% |
| 16 | Hungarian | 320,155 | 0.88% |
| 17 | Greek | 262,135 | 0.72% |
| 18 | Romanian | 215,885 | 0.59% |
| 19 | Danish | 196,945 | 0.54% |
| 20 | Austrian | 189,535 | 0.52% |
| 21 | Belgian | 182,175 | 0.50% |
| 22 | Swiss | 145,570 | 0.40% |
| 23 | Finnish | 144,055 | 0.40% |
| 24 | Czech | 132,060 | 0.36% |
| 25 | Croatian | 130,820 | 0.36% |
| 26 | Icelandic | 101,990 | 0.28% |
| 27 | Serbian | 93,355 | 0.26% |
| 28 | Armenian | 68,850 | 0.19% |
| 29 | Slovak | 68,210 | 0.19% |
| 30 | Albanian | 41,620 | 0.11% |
Source: Census 2021
also read: European Population in United States
European population in Canadian Provinces
Ontario is home to the largest number of Canadians with European ancestry, with approximately 7,798,615 people. It is followed by Quebec (2.96 million) and British Columbia (2.83 million), reflecting the historical settlement patterns of European immigrants across Canada.
In terms of percentage of the total population, Prince Edward Island (69.87%) has the highest share of residents with European ancestry, followed by Nova Scotia (66.68%) and Saskatchewan (65.99%), showing the strong European presence in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies.
List of Provinces by European Ancestry (2021)
| # | Province | Population 2021 | % of Total |
| 1 | Alberta | 2,491,695 | 59.64% |
| 2 | British Columbia | 2,825,340 | 57.47% |
| 3 | Manitoba | 761,420 | 58.25% |
| 4 | New Brunswick | 413,000 | 54.40% |
| 5 | Newfoundland | 291,330 | 58.02% |
| 6 | Northwest Territories | 16,520 | 40.91% |
| 7 | Nova Scotia | 637,380 | 66.68% |
| 8 | Nunavut | 5,840 | 15.96% |
| 9 | Ontario | 7,798,615 | 55.58% |
| 10 | Prince Edward Island | 105,140 | 69.87% |
| 11 | Quebec | 296,1770 | 35.65% |
| 12 | Saskatchewan | 728,030 | 65.99% |
| 13 | Yukon | 26,050 | 65.81% |
| Canada | 19,062,130 | 52.47% |
Source: Canada Census 2021
read about Canadian Provinces by Population
Top Canadian metropolitan areas by European population
The Toronto Metro area is home to the largest number of Canadians with European ancestry, with approximately 2,429,570 people. It is followed by Montreal (1.64 million) and Vancouver (1.11 million), reflecting both historical settlement patterns and ongoing European-descended communities across major urban centers.
European ancestry is widely distributed across Canada, with many mid-sized and smaller cities also showing a high percentage of residents with European origins. Cities in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, and British Columbia often have more than 70% of their population identifying with European ancestry, highlighting the enduring influence of European settlers across the country.
Top Cities in Canada by European Population (2021)
| # | City ( Metro Area) | Province | European Population | % of Total |
| 1 | Toronto | Ont | 2,429,570 | 39.55% |
| 2 | Montreal | Que | 1,645,200 | 39.11% |
| 3 | Vancouver | B.C | 1,109,105 | 42.54% |
| 4 | Edmonton | Alta | 802,935 | 57.44% |
| 5 | Ottawa – Gatineau | Ont./Que | 796,655 | 54.40% |
| 6 | Calgary | Alta | 783,690 | 53.49% |
| 7 | Hamilton | Ont | 526,615 | 68.09% |
| 8 | Winnipeg | Man | 468,195 | 57.12% |
| 9 | Kitchener – Cambridge – Waterloo | Ont | 354,275 | 62.37% |
| 10 | London | Ont | 351,370 | 65.58% |
| 11 | St. Catharines – Niagara | Ont | 312,930 | 73.55% |
| 12 | Halifax | N.S | 300,830 | 65.24% |
| 13 | Victoria | B.C | 291,500 | 75.04% |
| 14 | Quebec | Que | 287,625 | 35.20% |
| 15 | Windsor | Ont | 260,000 | 62.57% |
| 16 | Oshawa | Ont | 254,610 | 61.89% |
| 17 | Saskatoon | Sask | 205,825 | 66.07% |
| 18 | Kelowna | B.C | 169,795 | 77.70% |
| 19 | Regina | Sask | 158,325 | 64.64% |
| 20 | Barrie | Ont | 149,880 | 71.32% |
| 21 | St. John’s | N.L | 135,305 | 64.80% |
| 22 | Kingston | Ont | 122,085 | 72.64% |
| 23 | Greater Sudbury | Ont | 112,030 | 66.84% |
| 24 | Guelph | Ont | 110,920 | 67.85% |
| 25 | Abbotsford – Mission | B.C | 106,535 | 55.45% |
| 26 | Brantford | Ont | 101,630 | 71.62% |
| 27 | Peterborough | Ont | 97,210 | 77.15% |
| 28 | Thunder Bay | Ont | 93,795 | 77.54% |
| 29 | Saint John | N.B | 87,490 | 68.15% |
| 30 | Lethbridge | Alta | 86,400 | 71.70% |
| 31 | Nanaimo | B.C | 84,075 | 74.79% |
| 32 | Kamloops | B.C | 83,900 | 75.90% |
| 33 | Chilliwack | B.C | 83,770 | 75.09% |
| 34 | Moncton | N.B | 82,090 | 53.22% |
| 35 | Sherbrooke | Que | 80,480 | 36.56% |
| 36 | Belleville – Quinte West | Ont | 79,355 | 72.64% |
| 37 | Chatham-Kent | Ont | 74,120 | 72.60% |
| 38 | Sarnia | Ont | 72,550 | 75.35% |
| 39 | Fredericton | N.B | 71,395 | 66.62% |
| 40 | Red Deer | Alta | 65,925 | 67.24% |
| 41 | Cape Breton | N.S | 65,570 | 67.85% |
| 42 | Prince George | B.C | 62,630 | 71.24% |
| 43 | Kawartha Lakes | Ont | 60,195 | 77.94% |
| 44 | Sault Ste. Marie | Ont | 59,345 | 78.69% |
| 45 | Medicine Hat | Alta | 57,650 | 77.29% |
| 46 | Vernon | B.C | 52,905 | 80.99% |
| 47 | Charlottetown | P.E.I | 52,765 | 68.19% |
| 48 | North Bay | Ont | 50,975 | 72.64% |
| 49 | Courtenay | B.C | 50,970 | 82.17% |
| 50 | Norfolk | Ont | 50,355 | 76.04% |
Source: Canada Census 2021
read about Top Cities in Canada by Population
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